# Broadband social tariffs and Ofcom's mid-contract price rules > Bills & utilities · Last updated 6 April 2025 Canonical HTML: https://moneyguide.org.uk/bills-utilities/broadband-social-tariffs-and-mid-contract-rises/ Markdown mirror: https://moneyguide.org.uk/bills-utilities/broadband-social-tariffs-and-mid-contract-rises.md ## Quick answer Most major UK broadband providers offer cheap 'social tariff' packages — typically £10–£25 a month — to customers receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit and certain other benefits. Most major UK broadband providers offer cheap 'social tariff' packages — typically £10–£25 a month — to customers receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit and certain other benefits. From 17 January 2025 Ofcom's new rules also require any mid-contract price rises to be set in pounds and pence at sign-up, not inflation-linked. ## Key facts - Social tariffs available from BT, Sky, Virgin Media, Vodafone, Now, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and others. - Typical prices: £10–£25 a month for at least 30 Mbps fibre. - From 17 January 2025, mid-contract broadband and mobile price rises must be in pounds and pence, disclosed up-front — no more 'CPI + 3.9%' clauses. - Most major providers commit to waive early-exit fees when an eligible customer moves onto, or between, social tariffs — check your provider's specific policy. ## Who can get a social tariff Eligibility usually requires that someone in the household receives Universal Credit, Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related ESA, or Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (the exact list varies by provider). There is no credit check for social tariffs and no early-exit fee if you move on or off them. Speeds and packages are pitched at typical household use (HD streaming, work from home, video calls). Ofcom publishes a regularly updated list of providers and prices. ## How to switch onto a social tariff Ask your current provider first — most major providers will move eligible customers onto their social tariff mid-contract without an early-exit fee, as long as you provide proof of benefit. Policies vary, so check your provider's terms. If they don't offer a social tariff (or have a poor one) you can move to another provider; many waive exit fees in that situation too. Since April 2023 most ISPs will check eligibility automatically with DWP if you provide your National Insurance number, removing the need to upload benefit letters. ## Ofcom's new mid-contract price rules Before 2025, most broadband and mobile contracts contained inflation-linked annual rises (typically CPI + 3.9%). Customers often had no clear idea what their monthly bill would be in year two. From 17 January 2025, any in-contract price rise in a new fixed-term broadband or mobile contract must be set in pounds and pence at sign-up, disclosed prominently before purchase. This removes inflation surprises and lets people compare deals like-for-like. Existing contracts signed before that date still have the old CPI/RPI-linked rises. When your minimum term ends, you can switch without penalty. ## What 'fibre' really means 'Fibre to the cabinet' (FTTC) is part-fibre, part-copper, with maximum speeds of around 80 Mbps. 'Fibre to the premises' (FTTP, also called 'full fibre' or 'gigabit fibre') runs fibre all the way to your home and supports gigabit speeds. Different providers (Openreach, Virgin Media O2, CityFibre, Hyperoptic and others) cover different areas. Use the Ofcom Broadband Checker or your postcode on each provider's site to see what is actually available at your address. ## Frequently asked questions ### What if my provider doesn't offer a social tariff? You can switch freely to one that does, without paying early-exit fees as long as the new package is a social tariff and you are on a qualifying benefit. Ofcom has a list of all current social tariffs. ### Are mobile contracts covered by the new rules? Yes. The pounds-and-pence rule applies to fixed-term broadband AND mobile contracts entered into on or after 17 January 2025. ### Can I keep my landline number when I switch? Yes — landline number porting between providers is free. Tell your new provider you want to keep the number when you sign up and they will arrange the port with your old provider. (PAC codes are a mobile-only process; landline ports use a different request flow handled provider-to-provider.) ## Primary source https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/saving-money/social-tariffs ## Related - [Bills & utilities guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk/bills-utilities/) - [Energy price cap & Warm Home Discount](https://moneyguide.org.uk/bills-utilities/energy-price-cap-and-warm-home-discount/) --- Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.